LOWELL -- Weather forecasters are predicting the worst snowstorm to hit the region in the last two years will begin Friday morning and last through mid-day Saturday. And the storm has already claimed its first victim, as officials in Lowell postponed Winterfest.

The National Weather Service in Taunton on Wednesday issued a blizzard watch that will be in effect from Friday morning through Saturday afternoon. It is the first such watch the agency has issued in two years.

Meteorologists are predicting 18 to 24 inches of snow will fall across Greater Lowell, with snow coming down at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour at some points early Saturday morning.

High winds will also cause drifting snow and reduce visibility to less than a quarter of a mile.

The heaviest snow will fall sometime early Saturday morning, but the storm's biggest impact on the public will likely come earlier, during Friday afternoon's commute, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Rebecca Gould.

Gould recalled a winter storm in December 2007 that began in the early afternoon, just like this storm is expected to do.

Since there was no snow on the morning of that storm, many people went to work and then clogged the roads once snow started falling at 1 to 2 inches per hour.

"That made it kind of a nightmare," Gould said. "If you can work from home or stay home on Friday that's probably your best bet. Getting out of (work) early is probably the second best.

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National Weather Service Meteorologist Charlie Foley said another major impact will be widespread power outages due to strong winds.

"People will be cold and in the dark," Foley said.

The blizzard warning issued by the agency said there will be sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts of up to 55 mph. Those winds could also cause snow drifts of 3 to 4 feet, Foley said.

While driving on Friday afternoon could be difficult, by early Saturday morning "travel may become nearly impossible with blowing and drifting snow," according to the blizzard watch.

In Lowell, Winterfest was postponed due to the intensity of winter that is expected over the weekend.

The event, which was slated to take place this weekend, has been rescheduled to the weekend of Feb. 22 and 23 because of the forecast.

"Unfortunately, the weather forecasts are predicting too much winter to hold Winterfest this weekend," said City Manager Bernie Lynch in a prepared statement.

"The tents wouldn't be safe with the kind of snowload that is likely to occur and the DPW needs to be clearing roads and sidewalks and wouldn't be available for Winterfest set-up," Lynch added. "Plus, we want as many people as possible to be able to enjoy the fun of Winterfest."

The Winterfest committee is working to make sure all planned events still take place and updates will be provided at www.LowellWinterFest.org.

The storm will arrive just days after the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of 78', one of the worst winter storms to ever strike New England.

The threat of another big one sent people across the Merrimack Valley into local hardware and grocery stores.

Stores are seeing a higher sale of shovels, sidewalk salt and calcium, de-icer and window washer fluid but not enough to consider it a panic just yet.

Tom Cason of Cason's Outdoor Power Equipment , in Lowell, said that he has "seen it all before. People procrastinate when it comes to supplies for winter" and that "when it comes time to book tickets for a cruise people get it done months in advance, but for a snowstorm people start a day before the storm."

Local stores like A G Hardware, also in Lowell, expect the stampede of people the day of or before the storm.

While some stores are slow, other stores are starting to pick up with people getting out of work.

Gary Dumont, of Dracut Hardware Store, said that "sales have steadily increased throughout, people are starting to flood in after hearing the reports on the radio."

"We have sold several snow-blowers , shovels are being bought, and we are going through bags of salt," he said. "People are beginning to take the storm seriously."

As of Wednesday, snowshovels, salt, and snow-blowers were still in great supply.

Meanwhile, while many were preparing for the worst, others were looking forward to the snow.

Christopher Kitchin, inside operations manager at Nashoba Valley Ski Area in Westford, said, "We'll be here with bells on. People are getting excited. They want to get out in the snow and go snow-tubing, skiing and snowboarding."

Small scattered snowstorms have kept business up at Nashoba Valley, but the upcoming storm could be "the icing on the cake," Kitchin said.

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